"Once
again, let me express how wonderful your concert was. I especially
enjoyed your clever, funny and interesting dialogue. The pieces were so
well performed and the variety of selections was perfect. Thank you for such an
enjoyable evening".

Nancy Stark, NY

"Rarely had I witnessed such immediate
rapport between the artist and his audience.
Alexander spoke to us as if to his best friends: with such trust,
confidence
and humor! Not to mention his erudition, artistry, and, of course, the
beautiful music"...

Israel
Goichman, Germany

"Thank you for the wonderful performance last
night. Your natural talent combined with your passion for Russian culture and
musical heritage made for such a beautiful combination. I enjoyed your stories,
which made the music even more meaningful. The music brought joy to my heart
and tears to my eyes".

Being Captivated by You

Being Captivated by You (Israeli song “Lalekhet Shevi
Ahareich”) by Nurit Hirsch.

Between living in Russia and the United States,
I spent six years in Israel. Since that time, Israeli songs have been my
favorite. There are literally hundreds of wonderful songs, both old and new.

One of the most melodious – and most prolific –
contemporary Israeli composers is Nurit Hirsh, author of such international
Jewish hits as “Be Shana Habaa” (“Next Year”) and “Oseh Shalom” (a prayer for
Peace), and over a thousand more tunes! Her song “Being Captivated by You” is a
song of love for Israel – “the land of milk, bitter herbs and honey, a land
dreadful and beautiful at the same time”. The refrain says it all:

Being captivated by you,

Breathing your burning sun,

Dreaming under your sky,

Aching for you, and falling
in love again.

Those are the exact feelings I have toward this little
heroic country, so it is no surprise that some nostalgia crept into my
arrangement of this song...

* * *

This
story is just a tidbit from Alexander's "Songs of Exiles" concert
program. To hear the full story, together with Alexander's virtuoso
performance, come see him at his next concert! To buy this track, or the full CD of the music
from "Songs of Exiles", follow the link on the left.